Multicolor indicator for a fluid operated system

ABSTRACT

A visual indicator comprises a rotatably mounted body having three different positions and colors painted over a 120* portion of the body peripheral surface and vanes on each end of the body. A fluid flow acting upon the vanes on one end rotates the body in one direction through an angle of 120* so that a predetermined color is visible in a viewing window. Fluid flow on the vanes at the other end of the body rotates the body 120* in the other direction so that another color is visible in the viewing window. The body is weighted so as to remain in its normal position when there is no flow.

United States Patent Penny 151 I 3,643,620 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] MULTICOLORINDICATOR FOR A FLUID OPERATED SYSTEM [72] Inventor: Peter A. Penny,Stratford, Conn.

[21] App1.No.: 856,115

3,490,408 1/ 1970 Monge et al. ..1 16/70 X 1,064,911 6/1913 Jarvis..40/130 N FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,380,388 10/1964 France ..116/65 372,725 12/1963 Switzerland ..1 16/ 129 Primary Examiner-Louis .1.Capozi Att0mey-D. Vemer Smythe [57] ABSTRACT body 120 in the otherdirection so that another color is visible in the viewing window. Thebody is weighted so as to remain in its normal position when there is noflow.

1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures [52] US. CL ..ll6/65, 137/87, 137/551,137/625.18 [51] Int. Cl. ..G08b 1/04 [58] Field oISearch..116/65,70,129,117,124, 116/114, 4; 137/557, 81.5, 82, 83, 87, 551,625.18

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS N OR M A L M 2 I MULTICOLORINDICATOR FOR A FLUID OPERATED SYSTEM This invention relates toindicators for a fluid flow system.

Industrial control systems in many difi'ere'nt industries have commonlyused annunciators for providing information on a process or operation toan operator. A process or operation variable may have a limit or rangepredetermined as being acceptable for normal operation. If the variableor condition exceeds the limit or range, then the process is consideredto be in an abnormal or trouble condition. Generally, the variable ismeasured by a suitable sensing device to produce an analog output thatis a function of the value of the variable being monitored. When thevariable exceeds the predetermined limit or range, a precision limitswitch will transmit .a signal to the air annunciator. The presence ofthis signal denotes an abnormal condition and indicates trouble or somesort. When a trouble signal is noted, the operator will generallyacknowledge the existence of this signal and then take the necessaryremedial steps which have been determined beforehand.

While such annunciator systems have been generally electronic in nature,attempts have been made to devise fluidic and pneumatic annunciatorsystems. The fluidic and pneumatic annunciator systems include as theycomponents fluidic and pneumatic annunciator devices, respectfully, andan indicator actuated in response to the logic of the annunciatordevice. As an example, such annunciator systems generally indicate oneof three conditions which include alert, monitor and normal. Whilevarious forms of indicators have been proposed, they have been generallyunsatisfactory in that they were either slow to respond or did notclearly indicate the condition sensed by the system.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an indicatorfor a fluid system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an indicator for afluid system which is readily responsive to the conditions sensed by thesystem and clearly indicates this condition. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an indicatorfor a fluid system having a large ratio of indicator area to mountingarea.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a visual indicator fora fluid-operated annunciator system may comprise a body, such as acylindrical drum, mounted for rotation about its cylindrical axis.Visual indicia means are provided on different portions of theperipheral surface of the drum. Other types of indicia can be employed.A plurality of vanes is on each end of the drum so that a flow of fluidagainst the vanes on one end will rotate the drum in one direction so asto position indicia means in viewing position and the flow of fluid onthe vanes on the other end will rotate the drum in the other directionso as to position another indicia in the viewing posi tion.

The visual indicia means may include three different colors with eachcolor over an equal portion of the peripheral surface. The drum ispositioned adjacent a viewing window so that one color is visible in thewindow at a time. The rotation of the drum in either direction may belimited to 120 so as to accurately position a color in viewing position.Means may be provided on the drum to retain the drum in the normalposition.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will beapparent from the accompanying description and drawings, which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an annunciator device in apneumatic annunciator system with the outputs leading to an indicatoraccording to the present invention and the piston valve member of thedevice being shown in the normal position;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. I but shows the annunciator device valvemember in the alert position and the indicator in the correspondingposition;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the annunciator device valvemember in the monitor position and the indicator in the correspondingposition;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the indicator according to the presentinvention and showing the viewing window; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the indicator as shown in FIG. 4.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment ofthe present invention will be described in detail. It is to beunderstood although the invention is particularly adopted for pneumaticsystems, that fluid includes liquid as well as gas.

The indicator may be used with various systems but will be described inconjunction with its use with a specific system having two signaloutputs.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the annunciator device of the presentinvention is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a cylindricalcasing 11 having a substantially cylindrical bore 12 therein. Slidablymounted within the bore is a valve member in the form of a piston 13having a head end 14 and rod end 15 from which extends a rod 16 throughan opening 16A in an end wall of the casing. The rod provides bothmechanical linkage to the exterior of the casing and also a ventingresistance for the fluid in that end of the bore.

The piston 13 is provided with an annular groove 17 which provides analert or first signal output crossover and a second annular groove 18which provides a monitor or second signal output crossover. The alertcrossover enables a flow of fluid to pass through the casing bore toactuate the alert alarm, and the monitor crossover transmits the monitorsignal to its alarm system. As will besubsequently pointed out, thegeometry of the device presents'simultaneous actuation. The casing borehas several fluid inputs and outputs which mate with the pistongeometry. A constant pressure fluid conduit 19 having a pressureprobably greater than 15 p.s.i.g. is connected to the cusing at an angleofabout 45 or less to the longitudinal axis of the piston and easing.

A second conduit 20 connects to the head end of the casing to provide anentrance for the actuation pressure or abnormal condition signal. Thethird conduit 21 is connected to the sidewall of the casing and alsoadmits actuation pressure to the casing. Both conduits 20 and 21 branchfrom a single conduit 22 through which sensed conditions are indicatedby variations in fluid pressure.

Opposed from conduit 19 is an alert conduit 23 which leads to a suitableindicator indicated generally at 24.

A monitor conduit 25 is similarly extended from the casing but oppositeconduit 21 to also lead to the indicator 24.

The casing 11 is further provided with venting orifices 26 whosefunction will be described in connection with the operation of thedevice.

An acknowledge button 29 is provided which is engageable with the outerend of the piston rod 16. The operator acknowledges the existence of thealert condition by pushing the button 29 which in turn moves the pistonrod a distance so that the device is in the monitor equilibrium flow ina manner to be presently described.

The visual indicator 24 of the invention comprises a cylindrical drum 35having a shaft 36 along its central longitudinal axis and joumaled atboth ends at bearings 37 and 37a. A plurality of radial vanes 38 aremounted on one end of the drum 35 so as to be acted upon by the fluidflow from the conduit 25. A similar plurality of radial vanes 39 ismounted on the other end of the drum 35 so as to be acted upon by thefluid flow from conduit 23.

The peripheral surface of the drum 35 is divided into three equal areaseach extending over l20 of the peripheral surface as may be seen in FIG.1 of the drawings. These areas indicated at 40A, 40B and 40C are each ofa different color.

The indicatoris positioned adjacent a viewing window 41 in the wall ofthe apparatus and is so mounted that the colored area portions areclearly visible through the window. The

indicate the normal condition. The normal condition exists when no fluidflow is discharged from either of the conduits 23 and 25.

It is pointed out that the conduits 23 and 25 are positioned on oppositesides of the rotational axis of the drum as defined by the shaft 36.Because of this relationship, a discharge from the conduit 23 willrotate drum 35 in one direction and a discharge from conduit 25 willrotate in the drum in the other direction. Suitable stops or otherstructure is provided in the apparatus to limit the rotation of the drumto 120 in either direction. Thus, when there is a fluid flow fromconduit 23, the colored area 40C will be positioned in the viewingwindow 41 and, in a similar manner, a discharge from conduit 25indicating a monitor condition will rotate the drum so that the area 403is in the viewing window.

The sequence of operation of the device as described above will bedescribed as follows:

Normal Condition-The pressure at conduits and 21 will be atmospheric andthe pressure P, in the rod end of the casing will be only a few p.s.i.g.The residual pressure from the alert supply conduit 19 will maintain thepiston in the position as shown in FIG. 1. Since there is no fluid flowin either of the conduits 23 and 25, the indicator 24 will be at astatic off position, and the color 40A will be in a position at theviewing window 41. This position is determined by the force of gravityacting on a properly placed mass within the cylindrical drum 35. It ispointed out that the logic of the annunciator device is such that bothstreams 23 and will not be on simultaneously.

Sequence ActuationAbnormal Condition-When the variable being measuredexceeds a predetermined pressure, air at a pressure of the same order asthe pressure in conduit 19, will approach conduits 20 and 21 throughconduit 22 and move the piston.

In the trouble signal position, the alert crossover 17 becomes alignedwith conduits 19 and 23 to open the alert signal path with the pistonblocking flow between conduits 21 and 25. With the alert signal pathopen, the flow of fluid pressure through conduit 19 at an angle willurge the piston into the position shown in FIG. 2. The fluid will nowflow through the alert conduit 23 to the indicator 24 to act against thevanes 39 and thus rotate the cylindrical drum into the position as shownin FIG. 2 with color C being in the indicating position and visiblethrough the viewing window.

Acknowledge, Trouble Gone-The operator acknowledges the alert conditionby pushing the acknowledgment button 29. The button in turn pushes thepiston rod a distance to place the device in the monitor equilibriumposition. This return movement of the piston will turn off the alertflow through conduits l9 and 23. If the trouble signal has beeneliminated at this time, then pressure I. will return the piston back toits normal position as shown in FIG. 1 and the sequence is completed.

Acknowledge, Trouble Persists-lf the trouble should persist at the timeof acknowledgment, then pushing in the piston rod will stop the alertflow and commence the monitor flow through conduits 21 and 25. The fluidflow through conduit 25 will position the indicator as shown in FIG. 3with the color 403 being visible through the viewing window.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed a visualindicator for a pneumatic annunciator system in the form of athree-position, three-col0r indicator wherein one color represents theoff or normal condition and the other colors each represents twodistinct conditions of the system being monitored. The visual indicatormay be used in conjunction with an audio indicator which sounds an alarmconcurrent with the indication by the visual indicator of an alertcondition.

In order to facilitate the comprehension of the present invention, thevisual indicator disclosed herein has been described in connection witha particular fluid annunciator device for a monitor system. However, itis pointed out that this visual indicator may be used with many otherforms of fluid monitoring systems.

It will be understood that various details of construction andarrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A visual indicator for a fluid system comprising a rotatablecylindrically shaped drum, shaft means upon which said drum is rotatablymounted, circumferentially located visual indicia means on theperipheral surface of said drum, said in dicia means being divided intothree different color zones extending over substantially equal areazones on said peripheral surface, wall means having viewing window meanstherein, said wall means and viewing window means being adjacent saiddrum and color zones and related in size thereto so that one of saidcolors at a time may be viewed through said window means, means on saiddrum maintaining said drum in a central position so that the middlecolor zone normally will be viewable through said window means, aplurality of vanes on each end of said drum, means to direct a flow offluid onto the vanesv on one end of said drum to rotate the drum in onedirection away from its central position, means to direct a flow offluid on the vanes of the other end of said drum to rotate the drum inthe other direction and away from its central position, and controlmeans for selectively feeding a flow of fluid into one or the other ofsaid nozzles to turn said drum in one direction or the other.

um mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent2.6%.620 Dated Februarv 22. 1972 Invent0r(s) Peter A. Penny It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column L, line 1 4, before "means" insert --first--; Column L, line W,after "means" insert --including a nozzle-; Column L, line 66, before"means" insert -second; Column L, line 66, after "means insert-Including a nozzle-.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

1. A visual indicator for a fluid system comprising a rotatablecylindrically shaped drum, shaft means upon which said drum is rotatablymounted, circumferentially located visual indicia means on theperipheral surface of said drum, said indicia means being divided intothree different color zones extending over substantially equal areazones on said peripheral surface, wall means having viewing window meanstherein, said wall means and viewing window means being adjacent saiddrum and color zones and related in size thereto so that one of saidcolors at a time may be viewed through said window means, means on saiddrum maintaining said drum in a central position so that the middlecolor zone normally will be viewable through said window means, aplurality of vanes on each end of said drum, means to direct a flow offluid onto the vanes on one end of said drum to rotate the drum in onedirection away from its central position, means to direct a flow offluid on the vanes of the other end of said drum to rotate the drum inthe other direction and away from its central position, and controlmeans for selectively feeding a flow of fluid into one or the other ofsaid nozzles to turn said drum in one direction or the other.